Souvenirs from Corsica
Souvenirs from Corsica make great gifts for family and friends, or serve as a reminder of a wonderful trip. As a frequent traveler, I tend to choose practical souvenirs. There’s only so much room for magnets on the fridge, and decorative plates and trinkets can be hard to fit into the home decor. Not everyone appreciates another dust collector, even if it traveled halfway across the world to reach them.
In my experience, the best souvenirs are those you can either use around the house (like a corkscrew from a visit to a winery in Alsace with relevant branding), eat (always a great souvenir), or use for yourself (cosmetics or perfumes, for example). Below is my selection of Corsican souvenirs that fit this concept of useful purchases.
Souvenirs from Corsica
What do you associate with Corsica? Besides its breathtaking landscapes and azure sea (which you’ll capture in photos), it’s mainly local products and herbs—lots of herbs (maquis covers much of the territory). This gives you a good starting point for choosing your souvenirs.
Sausages
Despite being close to the sea, Corsica is quite a “meaty” region. You’ll easily find wild boar products here, which are a local specialty. Sausages are a great option, but be careful — they can melt in the heat and leak fat all over your suitcase. If you can find well-cured meats in airtight packaging, why not give it a try?
Pâtés and Terrines
This option avoids the problem of sausages: terrines come in glass jars, so nothing will leak (unless the jar breaks). In Corsica, you’ll find a huge variety of terrines made from different types of meat with a wide range of spices and additives. I always grab small tasting sets with different flavors, which allows you to compare and appreciate the full palette of these Corsican delicacies.
Cheeses
I’d be cautious with cheese, as it can melt or stink up your suitcase. In fact, smelly cheeses are not allowed in hand luggage on flights and might be confiscated at security. But airtight packaging can save the day, so it’s worth considering as an option.
Brocciu AOP, a delicate flavored ricotta, embodies the very soul of Corsican cuisine. Sheep and goat cheeses like Niulincu (from Niolu), Venachese (from Venaco), Calinzanincu (from Balagne, Calenzana), Bastellicacciu (from Bastelica and Bocognano), or Sartinese (from Sartène, covering the Taravo and Rizzanese valleys and the far south) add a refined layer of flavor to this delightful symphony.
Spices
Corsica is covered in maquis — local wild herbs. These herbs are widely used in Corsican cuisine. You can find different spice mixes for meat, grilling, or seafood, depending on the blend of herbs and aromas. A small packet of these spices costs around €3, making it an affordable and thoughtful gift that will bring the distinctive flavor of Corsica to your dishes for months.
Spiced Salt
Another “spice” option is salt mixed with maquis. Since it’s sea salt, it’s rich in minerals, and the herbs add a special fragrance to your dish.
Jams and Confitures
Corsican fruits, ripened under the Mediterranean sun, make for wonderful jams and preserves. Chestnut, fig, clementine, or lemon, often sourced from local organic orchards, offer a taste of the island’s botanical diversity. A delicious reminder of summer to enjoy out of season.
Honey
Miel de Corse—Corsican honey—is a high-quality local delicacy, marked with the AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) label. Within this appellation, there are six different varieties of honey, each reflecting the flowers they come from. Made according to ancient beekeeping traditions, Corsican golden nectar is a must-try when visiting the island.
Olive Oil
An essential part of Corsican gastronomy, Corsican olive oil is aromatic and of world-renowned quality. The olives are harvested when fully ripe, allowing them to absorb the fragrances of the maquis between November and March. In the past, each village had its own water mill, known as “u fragnu“, used to press the oil. Drizzle some on a piece of bread, rub it with garlic, add tomato, or simply cook with it!
Corsican Liqueurs
It’s a Corsican tradition to end a meal with a glass of local liqueur. This creamy, often homemade drink made from local fruits such as myrtle, lemon, arbutus, or chestnut has become a symbol of Corsican hospitality. The only downside is that these liqueurs are quite strong and sweet, which might not be to everyone’s taste.
Myrtle liqueur, known locally as mirto, is a distinctive spirit found exclusively on the Mediterranean islands of Capraia, Sardinia, and Corsica. Named after the myrtle plant, it is crafted from its leaves and berries, and is celebrated for its rich herbal complexity and nuanced, spiced flavor.
Though it is beginning to gain recognition beyond its native islands, mirto remains a rare find outside of its region. Secure a bottle of this authentically Corsican liqueur to enjoy at home, where you can use it to craft an evening cocktail and relax after a long day, reminiscing about your Corsican adventures.
Corsican Wines
Corsican wines make a fantastic gift, even for yourself. These wines are quite rare and difficult to find outside of Corsica—even in France. Yet Corsica boasts excellent vineyards and a unique terroir, so wine connoisseurs will appreciate this distinctive product.
Corsican wines are often made from local grape varieties, offering exciting sensory experiences that perfectly complement the island’s cuisine. There are nine appellations on the island, with Patrimonio AOP being the oldest. Varieties to try include Vermentino for white, Nielluccio, Sciaccarello, or Carcaghjolu Neru for red, and Muscat Petit Grain for a sweet wine.
Corsican Beer
Bière Corse, Corsican beer, is an exceptional artisanal product known internationally for its unique flavors, which perfectly convey the island’s distinct terroirs. The famous Pietra lager, made with high-quality chestnut flour, has become a signature product of Corsica.
Biscuits and Sweets
Many local producers offer various biscuits and cookies as local specialties. These are beautifully packaged and make great gifts — even for children.
Cosmetics and Scented Oils
Corsica truly lives up to its name as the “Island of Beauty.” The properties of plants like Corsican immortelle are carefully preserved in organic cosmetic products. From small natural soaps for €1 to liquid soaps from Savonnerie du Nebbiu, Bio Donna è cosmetics, creams and serums, Solyvia diffusers, immortelle flower water, and maquis diffusers — there’s something for every taste and budget. The scent of Corsican herbs in cosmetics will remind you of this beautiful island for a long time and make for a perfect souvenir.
Home Textiles
Unlike magnets gathering dust on the shelves, home textiles from Corsica can become a great souvenir and be actively used in the household. You can buy traditional kitchen towels or aprons with a picture of Corsica, or you can choose a more sophisticated option with French decor. Pillowcases for decorative pillows, tablecloths or just handkerchiefs – depending on your budget, you can choose different souvenirs.
Beach Towel
If we talk about what souvenirs I used most actively, then the leader, of course, will be a beach towel with a picture of Corsica. Firstly, it will be a wonderful reminder of the wonderful beaches of the island. Secondly, every summer you will take out this towel and enjoy the usefulness of the gift. And you can also collect beach towels from different countries of the world, creating a collection of the best memories!
Home Fragrances
Girls will appreciate such a souvenir. And in Corsica they know a lot about fragrances! You can buy different aromatic sachets for your wardrobe. I liked the plaster model in the shape of Corsica, which was soaked with something deliciously smelling and delighted me with a pleasant aroma in the room for more than six months. Of the minuses — such a thing is quite fragile and can break in a suitcase that is thrown around. But if you managed to bring it, then you can use it later, aromatizing it with your own perfume.
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